Agenda Item Wording:
title
First Reading of Ordinance 2023-07 amending the Visalia Municipal Code Chapter 13.20, Water Conservation, to partially exempt groundwater users subject to the jurisdiction of and regulation by the Mid Kaweah Groundwater Sustainability Agency.
body
Deadline for Action: None
Submitting Department: Administration
Contact Name and Phone Number: Rhett Anderson, (559) 713-4530
Department Recommendation: It is the recommendation of staff to City Council to approve the amendment to the Visalia Municipal Code, Chapter 13.20, Water Conservation, to allow for the partial exemption from portions of Sections 13.20.060 and 13.20.070 for groundwater users subject to the jurisdiction of and regulation by the Mid Kaweah Groundwater Sustainability Agency (MKGSA). The changes would encourage these users to enroll with the MKGSA if they have not already done so and would allow greater flexibility to manage their use than the City's landscape irrigation provisions of Chapter 13.20 currently allow. Staff is recommending this change because it encourages a collaborative approach with the user and the MKGSA that should provide flexibility in meeting the needs of the user while still meeting the intent of Chapter 13.20.
Background Discussion:
The City of Visalia has had a longstanding dedication to the conservation of water resources. This was demonstrated in the adoption of the Water Conservation Ordinance, which outlined appropriate uses of water for City residents and commercial properties alike. As a groundwater reliant municipality, the City of Visalia has experienced significant groundwater declination since record keeping began in 1948, at an average of 10 feet below ground level. This is a stark difference from the City's most recent recording in June, 2023. This reading reported an average groundwater elevation at 149.7.
In efforts to better manage the groundwater resource below the...
Click here for full text